a. [f. L. atrōci- (nom. atrox) fierce, cruel, f. āter black + -OUS.]
1. Characterized by savage enormity: excessively and wantonly cruel; heinously wicked: a. of actions. b. of persons or agents.
1669. Honyman, Surv. Naphtali, II. 203. If it [a fault] be atrocious and landdefiling.
1772. Pennant, Tours Scot. (1774), 252. Here all atrocious criminals were excluded.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., vi. 21. Human nature … may become atrocious in a degree that confounds every distinction between human and diabolical wickedness.
1845. Darwin, Voy. Nat., ii. (1879), 24. Atrocious acts which can only take place in a slave country.
† 2. Stern, terrible, fierce; extremely violent. Obs.
1735. Thomson, Liberty, II. 305. The fierce, atrocious frown of sinewed Mars.
1733. Cheyne, Eng. Malady, I. vi. § 10. Nervous Diseases … with higher, and more numerous and atrocious Symptoms.
3. colloq. Very bad, shocking, execrable.
Mod. What an atrocious pun!
